Ballantine’s is a renowned blended Scotch whisky brand with a rich history dating back to 1827 when George Ballantine established his grocery store in Edinburgh. Initially, the store sold a variety of goods, including whisky. George Ballantine eventually started blending his own whisky and gained a reputation for high-quality blends.
In 1865, George’s son, George Jr., took over the business and expanded its reach, especially into the international market. Ballantine’s became particularly popular in Europe and Asia.
The brand continued to grow over the years, and in 1938, Ballantine’s Finest was created, which became the brand’s flagship expression. Ballantine’s continued to innovate, introducing new blends and expressions to its portfolio.
French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard currently owns the Ballantine’s brand and is part of its Chivas Regal subsidiary. It is the company’s best-selling blended Scotch whisky and ranks number two worldwide. It is the best-selling blended Scotch whisky in Europe and is exceptionally strong in southern Europe. It ranks seventh in the United States among blended Scotch whiskies, behind its stablemate, number two ranked, Chivas Regal.